Anyone familiar with Phil Curtin's publications ought to realize that his
deep commitment to fighting racism spans more than five decades. Those
Africanists and comparatists who have studied with him must also recognize
that he is a veteran practitioner of academic politics. I find it rather
implausible to suggest that he does not fully comprehend the ramifications
of his argument. We may disagree with him on various issues, as many of us
have over the years, but it seems to me that he knows exactly what he is
doing. For the last few years, many junior Africanists have been griping
about hiring practices. That it took Curtin, wrapped in the mantle of his
seniority, to air these issues in a public forum speaks poorly for the
courage of myself and other junior colleagues.
Curtin argues that colleges are beginning to define the field of African
history as a place where affirmative action takes precedence over
intellectual achievement. The way in which any field of scholarship
represents itself to the public has a direct impact upon its research and
teaching agenda. This is the case in nuclear physics and medicine just as
much as it is in African history. It is this set of issues surrounding the
representation of African history which makes Curtin's arguments so
powerful and controversial. That he has made an effort to introduce his
students to these difficult issues suggests that his understanding of
academic politics is quite sophisticated.